Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Exodus 29:1–30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; and Proverbs 8:14-26. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Exodus 29-30:10 (Contemporary English Version)
Exodus 29
Instructions for Ordaining Priests
(Leviticus 8.1-36)
1When you ordain one of Aaron's sons as my priest, choose a young bull and two rams that have nothing wrong with them. 2Then from your finest flour make three batches of dough without yeast. Shape some of it into larger loaves, some into smaller loaves mixed with olive oil, and the rest into thin wafers brushed with oil. 3Put all of this bread in a basket and bring it when you come to sacrifice the three animals to me. 4Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the sacred tent and have them wash themselves. 5Dress Aaron in the priestly shirt, the robe that goes under the sacred vest, the vest itself, the breastpiece, and the sash. 6Put on his turban with its narrow strip of engraved gold 7and then ordain him by pouring olive oil on his head.
8Next, dress Aaron's sons in their special shirts 9and caps and their sashes, [a] then ordain them, because they and their descendants will always be priests. 10Lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent, where Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head. 11Kill the bull near my altar in front of the tent. 12Use a finger to smear some of its blood on each of the four corners of the altar and pour out the rest of the blood on the ground next to the altar. 13Then take the fat from the animal's insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and send them up in smoke on the altar. 14But the meat, the skin, and the food still in the bull's stomach must be burned outside the camp as an offering to ask forgiveness for the sins of the priests. [b]15Bring one of the rams to Aaron and his sons and have them lay their hands on its head. 16Kill the ram and splatter its blood against all four sides of the altar. 17Cut up the ram, wash its insides and legs, and lay all of its parts on the altar, including the head. 18Then make sure that the whole animal goes up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.
19Bring the other ram to Aaron and his sons and have them lay their hands on its head. 20Kill the ram and place some of its blood on Aaron's right ear lobe, his right thumb, and the big toe of his right foot. Do the same for each of his sons and splatter the rest of the blood against the four sides of the altar. 21Then take some of the blood from the altar, mix it with the oil used for ordination, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes, and also on his sons and their clothes. This will show that they and their clothes have been dedicated to me.
22This ram is part of the ordination service. So remove its right hind leg, [c] its fat tail, the fat on its insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. 23Take one loaf of each kind of bread [d] from the basket, 24and put this bread, together with the meat, into the hands of Aaron and his sons. Then they will lift it all up [e] to show that it is dedicated to me. 25After this, the meat and bread are to be placed on the altar and sent up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. 26You may eat the choice ribs from this second ram, but you must first lift them up [f] to show that this meat is dedicated to me. 27-28In the future, when anyone from Israel offers the ribs and a hind leg of a ram either to ordain a priest or to ask for my blessing, the meat belongs to me, but it may be eaten by the priests. This law will never change.
29-30After Aaron's death, his priestly clothes are to be handed down to each descendant who succeeds him as high priest, and these clothes must be worn during the seven-day ceremony of ordination.
31Boil the meat of the ordination ram in a sacred place, 32then have Aaron and his sons eat it together with the three kinds of bread at the entrance to the sacred tent. 33At their ordination, a ceremony of forgiveness was performed for them with this sacred food, and only they have the right to eat it. 34If any of the sacred food is left until morning, it must be burned up.
35Repeat this ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons seven days in a row, just as I have instructed you. 36Each day you must offer a bull as a sacrifice for sin and as a way of purifying the altar. In addition, you must smear the altar with olive oil to make it completely holy. 37Do this for seven days, and the altar will become so holy that anyone who touches it will become holy.
The LORD said:
8Next, dress Aaron's sons in their special shirts 9and caps and their sashes, [a] then ordain them, because they and their descendants will always be priests. 10Lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent, where Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head. 11Kill the bull near my altar in front of the tent. 12Use a finger to smear some of its blood on each of the four corners of the altar and pour out the rest of the blood on the ground next to the altar. 13Then take the fat from the animal's insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and send them up in smoke on the altar. 14But the meat, the skin, and the food still in the bull's stomach must be burned outside the camp as an offering to ask forgiveness for the sins of the priests. [b]15Bring one of the rams to Aaron and his sons and have them lay their hands on its head. 16Kill the ram and splatter its blood against all four sides of the altar. 17Cut up the ram, wash its insides and legs, and lay all of its parts on the altar, including the head. 18Then make sure that the whole animal goes up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.
19Bring the other ram to Aaron and his sons and have them lay their hands on its head. 20Kill the ram and place some of its blood on Aaron's right ear lobe, his right thumb, and the big toe of his right foot. Do the same for each of his sons and splatter the rest of the blood against the four sides of the altar. 21Then take some of the blood from the altar, mix it with the oil used for ordination, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes, and also on his sons and their clothes. This will show that they and their clothes have been dedicated to me.
22This ram is part of the ordination service. So remove its right hind leg, [c] its fat tail, the fat on its insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. 23Take one loaf of each kind of bread [d] from the basket, 24and put this bread, together with the meat, into the hands of Aaron and his sons. Then they will lift it all up [e] to show that it is dedicated to me. 25After this, the meat and bread are to be placed on the altar and sent up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. 26You may eat the choice ribs from this second ram, but you must first lift them up [f] to show that this meat is dedicated to me. 27-28In the future, when anyone from Israel offers the ribs and a hind leg of a ram either to ordain a priest or to ask for my blessing, the meat belongs to me, but it may be eaten by the priests. This law will never change.
29-30After Aaron's death, his priestly clothes are to be handed down to each descendant who succeeds him as high priest, and these clothes must be worn during the seven-day ceremony of ordination.
31Boil the meat of the ordination ram in a sacred place, 32then have Aaron and his sons eat it together with the three kinds of bread at the entrance to the sacred tent. 33At their ordination, a ceremony of forgiveness was performed for them with this sacred food, and only they have the right to eat it. 34If any of the sacred food is left until morning, it must be burned up.
35Repeat this ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons seven days in a row, just as I have instructed you. 36Each day you must offer a bull as a sacrifice for sin and as a way of purifying the altar. In addition, you must smear the altar with olive oil to make it completely holy. 37Do this for seven days, and the altar will become so holy that anyone who touches it will become holy.
The LORD said:
Daily Sacrifices
(Leviticus 6.8-13; Numbers 28.1-8)
38Each day you must sacrifice two lambs a year old, 39one in the morning and one in the evening. 40-41With each lamb offer two pounds of your finest flour mixed with a quart of pure olive oil, and also pour out a quart of wine as an offering. The smell of this sacrifice on the fires of the altar will be pleasing to me. 42-43You and your descendants must always offer this sacrifice on the altar at the entrance to the sacred tent. People of Israel, I will meet and speak with you there, and my shining glory will make the place holy. 44Because of who I am, the tent will become sacred, and Aaron and his sons will become worthy to serve as my priests. 45I will live among you as your God, 46and you will know that I am the LORD your God, the one who rescued you from Egypt, so that I could live among you.
The LORD said to Moses:
The LORD said to Moses:
Exodus 30
The Altar for Burning Incense
(Exodus 37.25-28)
1Build an altar of acacia wood where you can burn incense. 2Make it eighteen inches square and thirty-six inches high, and make each of its four corners stick up like the horn of a bull. 3Cover it with pure gold and put a gold edging around it. 4Then below the edging on opposite sides attach two gold rings through which you can put the poles for carrying the altar. 5These poles are also to be made of acacia wood covered with gold. 6Put the altar in front of the inside curtain of the sacred tent. The chest with the place of mercy [g] is kept behind that curtain, and I will talk with you there. 7-8From now on, when Aaron tends the lamp each morning and evening, he must burn sweet-smelling incense to me on the altar. 9Burn only the proper incense on the altar and never use it for grain sacrifices or animal sacrifices or drink offerings. 10Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing on its four corners [h] the blood of an animal sacrificed for sin, and this practice must always be followed. The altar is sacred because it is dedicated to me.
Footnotes:- Exodus 29:9their sashes: One ancient translation; Hebrew " the sashes of Aaron and his sons."
- Exodus 29:14for the sins of the priests: When a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins was made for someone other than priests, the part that was not burned on the altar could be eaten by the priests (see Leviticus 5.13; 6.26).
- Exodus 29:22right hind leg: This was usually given to the officiating priest (see Leviticus 7.33).
- Exodus 29:23each kind of bread: See verses 2,3.
- Exodus 29:24lift it all up: Or " wave it all."
- Exodus 29:26three kinds of bread: See verses 2,3.
- Exodus 30:6place of mercy: See the note at 26.34.
- Exodus 30:10four corners: See 27.2; 30.2.
Footnotes:
- Exodus 29:9their sashes: One ancient translation; Hebrew " the sashes of Aaron and his sons."
- Exodus 29:14for the sins of the priests: When a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins was made for someone other than priests, the part that was not burned on the altar could be eaten by the priests (see Leviticus 5.13; 6.26).
- Exodus 29:22right hind leg: This was usually given to the officiating priest (see Leviticus 7.33).
- Exodus 29:23each kind of bread: See verses 2,3.
- Exodus 29:24lift it all up: Or " wave it all."
- Exodus 29:26three kinds of bread: See verses 2,3.
- Exodus 30:6place of mercy: See the note at 26.34.
- Exodus 30:10four corners: See 27.2; 30.2.
Matthew 26:14-46 (Contemporary English Version)
Judas and the Chief Priests
(Mark 14.10,11; Luke 22.3-6)
14Judas Iscariot [a] was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests 15and asked, "How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins, 16and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples
(Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?" 18Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, `My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.' " 19They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies."
22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"
23He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born."
25Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!"
"That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies."
22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"
23He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born."
25Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!"
"That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
The Lord's Supper
(Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
26During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body." 27Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it. 28This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. 29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom." 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter's Promise
(Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)
31Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.'
32But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
33Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
34Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." 35But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you."
All the others said the same thing.
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.'
32But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
33Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
34Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." 35But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you."
All the others said the same thing.
Jesus Prays
(Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46)
36Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. [b] He was very sad and troubled, 38and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." 39Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. [c] But do what you want, and not what I want." 40He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
42Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? [d] The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here." Footnotes:- Matthew 26:14Iscariot: See the note at 10.4.
- Matthew 26:37the two brothers, James and John: The Greek text has "the two sons of Zebedee" (see 27.56).
- Matthew 26:39having me drink from this cup: In the Scriptures "to drink from a cup" sometimes means to suffer (see the note at 20.22).
- Matthew 26:45Are you still sleeping and resting: Or "You may as well keep on sleeping and resting."
42Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? [d] The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here."
Footnotes:
- Matthew 26:14Iscariot: See the note at 10.4.
- Matthew 26:37the two brothers, James and John: The Greek text has "the two sons of Zebedee" (see 27.56).
- Matthew 26:39having me drink from this cup: In the Scriptures "to drink from a cup" sometimes means to suffer (see the note at 20.22).
- Matthew 26:45Are you still sleeping and resting: Or "You may as well keep on sleeping and resting."
Psalm 31:19-24 (Contemporary English Version)
19You are wonderful,
and while everyone watches,
you store up blessings for all
who honor and trust you.
20You are their shelter
from harmful plots,
and you are their protection
from vicious gossip.
21I will praise you, LORD,
for showing great kindness
when I was like a city
under attack.
22I was terrified and thought,
"They've chased me
far away from you!"
But you answered my prayer
when I shouted for help.
23All who belong to the LORD,
show how you love him.
The LORD protects the faithful,
but he severely punishes
everyone who is proud.
24All who trust the LORD,
be cheerful and strong.
and while everyone watches,
you store up blessings for all
who honor and trust you.
20You are their shelter
from harmful plots,
and you are their protection
from vicious gossip.
21I will praise you, LORD,
for showing great kindness
when I was like a city
under attack.
22I was terrified and thought,
"They've chased me
far away from you!"
But you answered my prayer
when I shouted for help.
23All who belong to the LORD,
show how you love him.
The LORD protects the faithful,
but he severely punishes
everyone who is proud.
24All who trust the LORD,
be cheerful and strong.
Proverbs 8:14-26 (Contemporary English Version)
14I am strong,
and I offer
sensible advice
and sound judgment.
15By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
that are fair.
16Every honest leader rules
with help from me.
17I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
who honestly search.
18I can make you rich and famous,
important and successful.
19What you receive from me
is more valuable
than even the finest gold
or the purest silver.
20I always do what is right,
21and I give great riches
to everyone who loves me.
22From the beginning,
I was with the LORD. [a] I was there before he began
23to create the earth.
At the very first,
the LORD gave life to [b] me. 24When I was born,
there were no oceans
or springs of water.
25My birth was before
mountains were formed
or hills were put in place.
26It happened long before God
had made the earth
or any of its fields
or even the dust.
Footnotes:- Proverbs 8:22From the beginning. . . with the L(ORD: Or " In the very beginning, the LORD created me."
- Proverbs 8:23gave life to: Or " formed."
and I offer
sensible advice
and sound judgment.
15By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
that are fair.
16Every honest leader rules
with help from me.
17I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
who honestly search.
18I can make you rich and famous,
important and successful.
19What you receive from me
is more valuable
than even the finest gold
or the purest silver.
20I always do what is right,
21and I give great riches
to everyone who loves me.
22From the beginning,
I was with the LORD. [a] I was there before he began
23to create the earth.
At the very first,
the LORD gave life to [b] me. 24When I was born,
there were no oceans
or springs of water.
25My birth was before
mountains were formed
or hills were put in place.
26It happened long before God
had made the earth
or any of its fields
or even the dust.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 8:22From the beginning. . . with the L(ORD: Or " In the very beginning, the LORD created me."
- Proverbs 8:23gave life to: Or " formed."
Thought for the Day
“My dear friends, we always have good reason to thank God for you, because your faith in God and your love for each other keep growing all the time.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 - Contemporary English Version) I think every Christian should have the exact same goal, to keep growing in our faith in God and our love for each other. And if we're successful in doing both, I believe everything else will just fall into place.
Quote for the Day
American economist, public policy analyst, and a professor at Columbia University, Joseph Stiglitz wrote, “When you don't have equality of opportunity because you don't have equal access to education, it just seems so outrageous. It weakens our economy and leads to more inequality.”
A Joke for Today
A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you." The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?"
The boy takes the quarters and leaves. "What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"
Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store. "Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?"
The boy licked his cone and replied, "Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!"
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That those in the arts would be open to biblical world views and principles.
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